Ive been looking at the availible choices of headers and noticed there wasnt many and the once I saw ranged from close to $1000 Long tubes to $400 for shorties. I want longtubes but I dont understand why theyre so over priced. What are the options for long tubes? Ive only seen a set on the SW website.

 

http://www.exoticmuscle.com/webpage.php?EMCAT=vette

 

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1431126

 

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

 

First, the C4 headers are a low production item compared to headers for most other vehicles. This has an effect on price of course. Plus, there are no 'cheapie' headers made specifically for the LT1/4 cars. But the good news is that although a bit pricey, all of the options you have are of exceptional quality. And if you plan on keeping your car long term, they are a good investment because they will last. I'm particularly partial to the SW headers because I like the 1 5/8" primary size for most street cars and I love the fact that they're stainless steel! And if you have an automatic their set-up works extremely well, allowing you to use bullet cats beside the transmission, directly off of the collectors where they perform the best. They slip up into place with no issues, plug access is great and their connector pipes for the A4 set-up offer great adjustability for hooking up to any stock or aftermarket system. The trick there is that each side is in two pieces from the cats back to where the stock resonator is. This gives you adjustability both in length and distance of the pipes center to center. I hooked mine to a stock system in my garage with no need to visit a muffler shop. A couple of two buck adapters, a borrowed pipe expander from Autozone and it was done. I could have hooked it to my Power Effects system with equal simplicity. I need to get in touch with SW and see if they're up for another group purchase. It's about time, I'd say. They're also great folks to deal with.

 

has anyone ever tried to install L98 headers on an LT1 since they seem to be much cheaper..

Or can you use el-cheapo's for a 82 vette without the AIR tube provisions?

 

Please do -- and please give me a PM if one gets started, as you know I've been interested in a SW GP for some time. Thanks

And I second his preference for SWs for the same reasons, and the fact that they are lighter than the 1 3/4" options. On a side note for this thread -- around how much HP can the motor have before the 1 3/4" headers are better for a street car? Any rough ideas? I imagine the various mods may make a difference, but personally some light headwork and an LT4 hotcam kit may be in my future next year.

 

$1000 for long tubes or $400 engine dress-up. From what I have read, our stock manifolds act very similar to shorties for performance. They are lighter, but as you seem to understand -- long tubes are the only way to go. And if you go for SWs we may already have 2 for a SWs GP

 

My old thread may help answer some questions of yours. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ker+long+tubes -- It mentions that the 2151 L98 Hooker headers work on an LT1 Vette.

 

Oh God, we don't really want to start that debate again, do we? I know of someone who was running well into the 10s in a C4 and was still using 1 5/8" headers. It was a big inch small block, too.
I just put fresh plugs in mine tonight. It probably took 20 minutes total and that included gapping the plugs.
I'll shoot Al an email this week and see what they say about another GP. I've really meant to do it before now but I've just been busy.

 

Well -- I won't be hitting 10s in this car. And while it doesn't answer my question, it is a good enough answer for me to not be concerned at all about the fairly light mods that I'd be doing.

 

I'm expecting my new engine to dyno upwards of 450 (computed) FWHP and I'm not worried about it. For where I designed this engine to be used (RPM-wise) and where I want maximum torque and response, I consider them ideal for me.

 

I'm assuming we dont have any C4 stepped 1 7/8 Long Tubes availible correct? Really I just want some cheap longtubes that dont drag on the deck.

 

I can tell you that I know they fit very well. My car was used for the template several years ago. I don't think you will find a higher quality piece.
http://www.stahlheaders.com/Frame%20New%20Drag.htm

 

Without reading into the old thread, I would only say that an 1 5/8 primary tube for most any small application is more than adequate. Given the normal operating speeds of a street/track driven car. Without going into the technical issues around exhaust valve dia. and port size, a header primary can be to large as well. I can tell you that a straight 1 3/4 primary tube is to large for almost if not all small block street driven cars.

 

I was looking into this subject a couple months ago and decided to go with the SW and cats setup.
If you guys call them and ask for the corvetteforum discount, they will take care of you. I'd think the deal would be similar to a gp deal.
It was down to the EM's or SW's in the end and the stainless won it over for me. I had them in 1 week as they had them on the shelf. The EM's seem to be at least a 2 month wait judging by their current gp. It does seem like the Melrose option is nice as well. Iv'e heard the 1 5/8 size helps with the power characteristics on motors up to aprox 500 hp, then a larger primary could help at the top end beyond that. If you are looking for the less expensive and don't mind some fitment issues and/or decreased life expectancy, look into the Hedman (elites) or the Hooker 2151's.

 

I can't seem to get to the stainless works website... Anyone have a link?

Thanks

 

Try [.net] www.stainlessworks.net I had to figure this out in the past as well...

 

Melrose makes a great longtube header for the C4s.

 

Their link is on the left side of the page under headers. It's between Kooks and QTP, the second one down. If you're like me, you can't even make out what it says. You'd have to know it's there to find it. But 4REGT4 has it right, too.